Homeowners and contractors alike can be baffled when it comes to calculating spray foam coverage. On paper, all the numbers may look confusing, but the calculation is quite easy when you take it step by step. Here’s how to calculate spray foam insulation coverage and some tips for optimizing your spray foam application coverage.
Why Calculate Spray Foam Coverage?
As a spray foam contractor, it’s important to know the area of spray foam insulation coverage before going into a project. Knowing how much area to expect is crucial to preparing enough spray foam for the job. It’s also helpful to know in advance what type of environment you will be spraying. This helps you recommend the best type of spray foam insulation for the job. Knowing what part of a building you’ll be insulating is also crucial to the success of the project, since certain conditions such as humidity and temperature can impact spray foam application.
How To Calculate Spray Foam Coverage
Whether you’re inspecting the space yourself or getting information from clients, start by getting measurements of the area. Take the length and height of each separate wall that needs coverage. Next, measure any areas in the space that you won’t be spraying, such as doors, windows, and wall studs. Next, it’s time to do a little math:
- Take the length and height of each wall and multiply these measurements to find the area in square feet.
- Add the square feet of each wall to find your total area.
- Determine the window, door, and stud areas using the same length multiplied by height calculation.
- Finally, subtract the window, door, and stud areas from your total area to reflect the insulation coverage area.
- From here, you’ll be able to determine how much foam you need per square foot of insulation area.
Spray Foam Coverage Tips
When it comes to applying spray foam, you want to cover the area thoroughly. Some types of spray foam such as closed-cell foams and high-expansion foams will expand to cover more space than others. You’ll need to give these varieties of foam adequate time during the installation to rise and expand before adding another coat, otherwise you risk packing down the foam. When you need to cover a large area with foam, pay attention to make sure you’re not spraying the material too thinly. Spraying foam too quickly could lead to thin, inadequate insulation layers.
We hope these tips for how to calculate spray foam insulation coverage help you prepare for your next spray foam insulation job. If you need to stock up on commercial spray foam insulation equipment before then, turn to Spray Foam Systems for all your equipment needs.
